It’s Friday, so y’all know what that means! It’s time to link up with Erika and Andrea to let everybody know what some of my favorite things are right now.
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J. CREW SWIM
Okay, y’all. It’s almost summer. Which means it’s almost swimsuit season.
I know that’s scary because I’m sure lots of y’all need a new swimsuit or two, and let’s be honest, swimsuit shopping can be terrifying. 😉
Well, I’ve partnered up with J. Crew this weekend to highlight some of their swimsuits and vacation ready looks and make sure y’all know their swim selection is absolute FIRE.
I mean, my favorite swimsuit EVER was a strapless blue and white seersucker suit from J Crew that I wore for like 5-6 years straight. I loved that suit, but then I ruined it in the lake 1 year. The white part of the seersucker just soaked up the lake water, and it was never white again. I still miss that suit :(, but I have several great ones that I’m highlighting for y’all today!
Give me all the red, white, and blue vibes all summer long…
eyelet cover-up / scrunchie 1 piece / bucket hat with crochet trim / sunglasses / beaded earrings / multicolor bracelet / gingham handle tote / flip flops
You can’t get more classic than a black strapless suit, and I think this entire look is so chic. I ordered both the cover-up and the suit, and I hope to do an unboxing sometime over the weekend!
crochet cover up / scrunchie strapless 1-piece / turquoise necklace / bucket hat / sunglasses / beaded earrings / black sandals / straw tote
Here’s the exact same look as above, but I switched out the cream crochet cover up for this black smocked maxi.
Maybe y’all remember I showed this dress last week? It’s awesome. I showed it dressed up with wedges, but I think it would make a great cover-up too.
smocked maxi dress / scrunchie strapless 1-piece / turquoise necklace / bucket hat / sunglasses / beaded earrings / black sandals / straw tote
Just to jog your memory… see how versatile it is? It’s such a great closet staple. It is incredibly flattering and can easily be dressed up or down. It has spaghetti straps, but they are removable, and it looks great worn strapless as well.
I’m wearing a small here (I knew it would be forgiving because of the smocking), so I would suggest sizing down (I’m typically a medium).
smocked maxi dress / multicolor earrings / coin toggle necklace / multicolor bracelet set / raffia buckle sandals
For a more playful look, this red floral suit with denim shorts is right up my alley. And the gingham handle tote is darling.
floral swimsuit / turquoise necklace / bucket hat / sunglasses / denim shorts / gingham handle tote / flip flops
I’m not a bikini girl, but I wish I was. I love everything about this look.
bikini top / swim bottoms / drawstring pants / bucket hat / sunglasses / beaded earrings/ turquoise necklace / turquoise bracelet / sunglasses / straw tote / flip flops
This classic swimsuit comes in 6 colors and is made out of that great scrunchie fabric. And look at this FABULOUS sarong.
swimsuit / sarong / straw tote / raffia buckle sandals / bucket hat / sunglasses / beaded earrings / turquoise necklace
Another way to style the swimsuit would be with denim shorts. And then if you’re at the beach and want to head to lunch, you could throw this scalloped tee on top to be restaurant ready.
scalloped tee / swimsuit / denim shorts / straw tote / raffia buckle sandals / sunglasses / multicolor necklace / turquoise bracelet
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NEW MARKDOWNS
This striped sweater is fabulous and NOW ON SALE. It’s 100% cotton, beautifully made, and a perfect lightweight sweater to have in your closet for spring. It’s pricey, but it really is fabulous. I’ll also wear it with denim shorts. For size reference, I’m wearing a medium.
I think it will be great thrown over my shoulders with a basic crewneck tee as well.
striped sweater / ankle jeans / cream wide leg jeans / gold skinny hoop earrings / coin toggle necklace / bracelet stack / raffia buckle sandals
This lace up sweater is beautifully made, feels great on, and is NOW ON SALE. Regularly $109, it’s only $55 right now! It feels like a well-made and expensive sweater. It’s soft, it’s cozy, and it’s flattering. The fit isn’t boxy, but it’s not tight either. And it’s on the shorter side, but it’s not cropped. It’s just a perfect fit. I love the ribbed hem on the sleeves and waist. For size reference, I’m wearing a medium.
lace up sweater / earrings / chunky necklace / bracelet stack / cream wide leg jeans / neutral Rothy’s option
lace up sweater / earrings / chunky necklace / ankle jeans / neutral Rothy’s option
The sweater above is from Evereve, and now through Sunday all tops are ON SALE at Evereve! There are tons of amazing tops to choose from.
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BALI BODY BEFORE AND AFTER
I first talked about Bali Body on the blog on Wednesday. When they reached out several weeks ago to see if I wanted to try their products, I checked them out online, read reviews, saw Before and After pics, and knew I had to try the product for myself.
I officially have a new favorite self-tanner!
There are several products, and I know I will be trying more of them in the near future, but it’s the Deep Violet Self-Tanning Mousse that’s my new tanning MVP.
Gradual Tanning Butter / Deep Violet Self-Tanning Mousse
It’s a light and fluffy tanning mousse that’s so easy to apply. It has a violet base with olive tones, which produces a nice chocolatey tan (with no hint of orange anywhere)! It’s lightweight and moisturizing (so it feels great going on the skin), and it’s fast-drying with a streak free finish.
I like that you see the color going on because it really makes for a super easy application process. If you miss a spot, you know immediately and can correct it immediately.
Deep Violet Self-Tanning Mousse
I pump two pumps onto a mitt and work in sections (two pumps for each section). I find that applying the product in circular motions results in the most even application. I start with one side of my body and always do my calf, then my thigh, then my arm, and then my neck, chest, and torso. I also do my hands and feet after I’ve already applied the mousse to the other parts of my body and just use the leftover color on the mitt. After I do the first side, I of course move to the other side.
As you can see below, I’ve tanned just one leg here so you can see the difference. WOW, right?!?!
The color is even, and I really love the chocolatey finish. No hints of orange at all!
Deep Violet Self-Tanning Mousse
Here I am immediately after application. See? Nice and even! And not orange at all! (You can also see that the color is not as shocking as it appears in the above picture when you are comparing it directly to my non-tanned skin.) It just looks natural! (It was actually hard to capture the deepness of my color because it was VERY dark outside and I had to lighten the picture up, so you need to trust! Haha!)
Also know that the color is buildable, so if you’d like a darker tan, just apply more!
This pic was taken immediately after application. The color will continue to develop and deepen some throughout the day, then I will take a shower at night before hopping in bed. Excess color will be washed off during the shower, but you will be left with a nice chocolate glow. 😉
Deep Violet Self-Tanning Mousse
The brand is 100% cruelty free and made in Melbourne with naturally derived ingredients that are suitable for all skin types
Gradual Tanning Butter / Deep Violet Self-Tanning Mousse
Here’s a professional Before and After shot of the incredible results! And you know what they say… if you can’t tone it, TAN IT! 🙂
Deep Violet Self-Tanning Mousse
The body butter is another great product. You just apply the butter like a daily moisturizer. I’m excited to use this more often and see how it sustains the color!
Bali Body Gradual Tanning Butter is the secret to buttery soft, bronzed skin. This multipurpose, 4-in-1 product works to hydrate, tan, illuminate and repair skin with each application.
And check this out! There’s a FREE GIFT WITH PURCHASE RIGHT NOW with any $30 Bali Body purchase!
Express Tan Ultra Dark (gift with purchase)
I’m also super excited to try their newly released Face Tan Milk. On the direct site this product has 54 reviews with an average rating of 4.9 stars. I mean, this Before and After picture speaks for itself! The reviews aren’t as great on Ulta, but I’m still curious enough to try it. I will place my order and report back.
Click HERE to see all of their products.
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ELECTRIC PICKS MOTHER’S DAY SALE and FREE NECKLACE!
I’m working on a collage for Monday’s blog post highlighting Mother’s Day Gifts Under $100, and I know I’m definitely going to be including some pieces from Electric Picks.
Electric Picks actually has tons of beautiful pieces that would all make great Mother’s Day gifts, and there’s a sale going on right now where you will receive 20% OFF your purchase with no code needed (only limited edition collaborations excluded). Just in time for Mother’s Day!
I grabbed these earrings and this bracelet for myself early last week, and they would both make excellent gifts. And this necklace is GORGEOUS. I think it would appeal to lots of moms, and I know it appeals to me. 😉
In addition to the 20% off, you will also receive a FREE Et Tois Necklace (valued at $78!) when you spend over $100! The Et Toil necklace will be automatically added to your cart.
Click HERE to browse around and see what catches your eye.
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H&M NOW AT NORDSTROM
H&M is now at Nordstrom! I’ll work on putting together a collage of my favorites for next week sometime, but in the meantime, some of the pieces that stood out to me follow…
- straw shoulder bag
- flared skirt smocked dress
- oversized tunic dress (this has to be my favorite)
- tiered midi dress (I like the light beige with the cranberry colored florals the most!)
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VIVRELLE IS A FUN NEW FAVORITE
If you follow lots of influencers on Instagram, there’s a good chance you know about Vivrelle. I had never heard of it until sometime last year when a couple of my favorite influencers started raving about the service. Basically, they were showing different amazing designer bags every month, BUT THEY WEREN’T BUYING THEM. They explained that Vivrelle was a service through which they were borrowing the bags (with a monthly service fee). And well, I WAS INTRIGUED.
So here’s the deal… Vivrelle is a luxury accessories membership service that makes high-end fashion feel accessible with no commitment of ownership! Instead of spending thousands of dollars on designer handbags and jewelry, members pay a monthly fee to borrow high-end pieces. We’re talking brands like Gucci, Chanel, Prada, and Louis Vuitton y’all!
How much fun is that!
So, if you’re somebody that loves luxury items, but you don’t want to be shelling out thousands of dollars to rock a new designer bag, Vivrelle is for you!
Click HERE to see how it works and learn about the different levels. I signed up for the “Classique” level, which means that I can borrow 1 bag (or piece of jewelry) at a time with a value of up to $4,000 for a monthly fee of $139. It’s the most popular tier (because it’s the most affordable), but you can pay more to borrow more expensive items OR you can pay more to borrow 2 items at a time.
And they’ve given us a code, ladies! You sign up for 3 months at a time, but the code SHEAFFERSIMS will get you your first month for FREE!
I opened up my first box the very second it arrived.
Look how happy I was when I pulled this gorgeous bag out of the box! (Heads up, it’s “currently unavailable” because I’m borrowing it right now, but it will become available again after I return it.)
You can shop bags for the season, for a particular outfit or event, or just try a bag out that you’re wondering if you would actually want to own it.
When Vivrelle reached out to see if I wanted to talk about their service, I was thrilled. I immediately jumped online and started browsing around to see what bags they had to offer. I “hearted” this one as soon as I saw it, but it wasn’t available at the time because somebody else was borrowing it. Well, I waited patiently for a couple of weeks, and then I scooped it up the day it became available.
Click HERE for this exact bag in case you want to “heart” it as well. I’m going to reluctantly be returning it to exchange it for another bag sometime next week, so it will become available again.
I really love this bag because I could wear it crossbody with the leather strap (as seen above), or I could detach the leather strap and use the gold chain to carry it over my shoulder. I did this a couple of times for nicer events (like some of our good friend’s wedding reception) and received so many compliments.
Oh! Another cool feature… Vivrelle also offers you the option to buy the bag at a reduced cost. If you get a bag and fall in love with it, you can request an estimate to buy. This particular bag is valued at $3,050, but I could buy it for $2100 if I were to decide that I just couldn’t part with it.
I’ve worn it every single day since receiving it (although I don’t think it’s appeared in any pictures until now because I’ve been trying to keep the reveal a surprise). 🙂
Below you will see just a handful of days I’ve worn it. I’m telling you, this bag goes with everything…
2-piece set / Vivrelle bag / turquoise necklace / multicolor bracelet set / raffia buckle sandals
floral mini dress / Vivrelle bag / gold bracelet stack / multicolor bracelet set / clear wedges
dress / Vivrelle bag / similar denim jacket / chunky multicolor necklace / gold bracelet stack / clear wedges
For my first bag, I chose a practical bag I knew was super functional and that I could carry just about every day with all kinds of outfits. For my second bag, I’m choosing a FUN bag. These are bags that are a little less practical, but a whole lot more FUN. Which is your favorite? I’m thinking the green Gucci.
I mean, there’s not a bad choice in the bunch!
Hermes / monogram Louis Vuitton / green Gucci / pink Hermes
And don’t forget, if you want to try the service out for yourself, use the code SHEAFFERSIMS to get your first month (out of 3) FOR FREE!
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SPANX
Spanx reached out and asked me if I wanted to pick anything for them to send me from their look book. I think my exact answer was “UM. HECK YES”. I immediately picked the everyday tee and the patch pocket jeans.
I feel like all of us are always on the hunt for the perfect white tee. This everyday tee fits great, has a nice thickness (but it isn’t too thick), it’s not see-thru, and it’s a good length. There’s a Madewell tee I really like too, but this SPANX one does seem to be superior. It’s 100% cotton, has a bit of give to it, and it doesn’t lose it’s shape. It’s pricey, but I think it’s worth it. For size reference, I’m wearing a medium.
The patch pocket jeans are totally on-trend, and I love the retro vibe. They are high-waisted, cropped, and super cute. This is what the brand has to say about them… Our SPANXshape™ Authentic 360 Cropped Wide Leg Jeans with Patch Pockets are made with premium, 4-way stretch denim and feature our signature 360-degree panel for tummy and waist shaping—plus back smoothing to reduce rolling and folding. Designed to be your go-to, everyday denim, these high-rise cropped wide leg jeans hug your curves and flatter your figure from every angle. Plus, with strategically placed back pockets that enhance your assets, these classic 5-pocket jeans combine authentic denim details—like a classic zip and button closure and premium hardware—with modern shaping technology. For size reference, I’m wearing a medium.
everyday tee / patch pocket jeans
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WEEK IN REVIEW
Monday’s post was all about personal 5 STAR finds! Click HERE to see them all. It’s a short post, and you should totally check it out if you missed it.
Wednesday’s post was What’s Up Wednesday. I covered lots of topics including a couple of campus tours with Carter and friends. Go check it out!
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That’s all for today, y’all! Have a wonderful weekend with your people!
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